Sikkim on March 9, 2026 positioned itself as a cornerstone of a proposed Buddhist Tourism Circuit for North East India during a post‑Budget webinar convened by the Ministry of Tourism, pitching the state as a prime destination for cultural and pilgrimage tourism and proposing to host the Buddhist Conclave 2026. The state’s submission, delivered by C.S. Rao, additional chief secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation, stressed Sikkim’s rich Buddhist heritage, its centuries‑old monasteries and a steady rise in domestic and international Buddhist pilgrims, the State Tourism department said in a press release.
The webinar, held to map action plans for tourism measures announced in the Union Budget 2026‑27, brought together central ministries, state and UT representatives, and stakeholders from tourism, hospitality and sports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the meeting, outlined initiatives to strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem, including creation of a National Institute of Hospitality, a programme to upskill 10,000 tourist guides through a 12‑week course in collaboration with the Indian Institutes of Management, and the development of a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid to digitally document cultural, spiritual and heritage sites.
Other budget proposals highlighted at the webinar include support for eco‑sustainable tourism trails-such as mountain, turtle and bird‑watching routes-aimed at promoting responsible tourism while conserving natural ecosystems. Participants discussed coordinated planning, scheme convergence and connectivity improvements to diversify tourism offerings and promote balanced regional development.
Rao emphasized Sikkim’s existing institutional framework for preserving Buddhist traditions, pointing to the State’s Ecclesiastical Affairs department and the unique Sangha constituency that represents the monastic community in the state legislature. He cited recent cultural safeguards such as notification of sacred sites, prohibitions on animal slaughter during auspicious occasions, and the continued observance of festivals like the recently concluded Bhumchu at Tashiding Monastery as evidence of the state’s commitment to heritage protection.
During the session Rao formally proposed hosting the Buddhist Conclave 2026 in Sikkim; the Ministry of Tourism reportedly received the suggestion positively. He also called for a “Buddhist Heritage Master Plan” for the North‑East to map key monasteries and pilgrimage circuits-a proposal noted by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and supported by the International Buddhist Confederation.
Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government will aim to maximise the impact of budget allocations through closer Central‑State collaboration, stronger skill development, and greater emphasis on community‑based and technology‑driven tourism experiences, while ensuring sustainability remains central to future planning.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/sikkim-highlights-role-in-proposed-ne-buddhist-tourism-circuit
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